Abstract: Systems and processes for producing one or more alkenes from shale gas. The process includes at least two dehydrogenation reactors whereby propane, or a mixture of propane and butane, can be dehydrogenated in a first reactor and ethane can be dehydrogenated in a second reactor. The lighter components which serve as chemical inert and thermal mass are separated from the dehydrogenated product after each reactor.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for providing a custom search engine. In one aspect, a first search query is received from a requestor. First search results contain search result items that match the first search query are Obtained. A least one sub-query is generated from the first search results. The generating is based on rules for a particular custom search engine. Second search results that match the sub-query are then obtained. A search result set is formed from a corpus that includes the first search results and the second search results. The generating of the search result set is based on the rules for the particular custom search engine. The search result set is provided to the requestor. In one aspect an interface for designing a custom search engine is provided. The interface allows the designer to specify the layout of a search results page.

Abstract: A process to catalytically transform natural gas liquid (NGL) into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons includes providing an NGL stream, catalytically dehydrogenating at least a portion of the NGL stream components to their corresponding alkene derivatives, catalytically oligomerizing at least a portion of the alkenes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and recovering the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The NGL stream can be extracted from a gas stream such as a gas stream coming from shale formations. The higher molecular weight hydrocarbons can be hydrocarbons that are liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure.

Abstract: Systems and processes for upgrading natural gas liquids (NGL). A natural gas, preferably a shale gas, comprising methane and one or more natural gas liquids can be converted to one or more liquid hydrocarbons. Methane can be separated from the one or more liquid hydrocarbons using a liquid absorbent to provide a first separated stream comprising the methane from the converted stream and a second separated stream comprising the one or more liquid hydrocarbons from the converted stream. At least a portion of the one or more liquid hydrocarbons can be recycled as the liquid absorbent.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system for generating electrical power on farmland while minimizing reduction of solar radiation incident on ground due to shadowing, including a photovoltaic module having a first photovoltaic face defining a first plane, a normal axis extending from the first plane, a first pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, a second pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, at least one motor operationally connected to pivot the photovoltaic module about at least one pivot axis, and an electronic controller operationally connected to at least one motor. An incident solar ray strikes the photovoltaic module at an angle of incidence defined as an intersection of the incident solar ray and the normal axis. The electronic controller sends signals to the at least one motor to maintain the angle of incidence as close as possible to ninety degrees.

Abstract: Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.

Abstract: Processes and systems for upgrading natural gas liquids. At least a portion of the natural gas liquid components in a shale gas stream can be dehydrogenated to their corresponding olefin derivatives prior to separating any methane from the liquids. Further processing subsequent to dehydrogenation could include various separations, oligomerizing olefins produced in the dehydrogenation step, recovering desired products, etc. The order of the processing steps subsequent to dehydrogenation could be adjusted in various cases.

Abstract: A process for producing olefins by cracking paraffins in the presence of methane. In the conventional steam cracking processes for olefin production, steam is used as a diluent in the feed mixture to the thermal cracker. In the processes provided herein, methane replaces steam as a diluent in the feed mixture to the thermal cracker. Replacing steam with methane as a diluent has a potential for cost savings in the construction and operation of a thermal cracking plant for olefin production. In addition, it leads to a much simpler cracking process compared to the conventional steam cracking technology as in the state of the art.

Abstract: Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for providing a custom search engine. In one aspect, a first search query is received from a requestor. First search results contain search result items that match the first search query are Obtained. A least one sub-query is generated from the first search results. The generating is based on rules for a particular custom search engine. Second search results that match the sub-query are then obtained. A search result set is formed from a corpus that includes the first search results and the second search results. The generating of the search result set is based on the rules for the particular custom search engine. The search result set is provided to the requestor. In one aspect an interface for designing a custom search engine is provided. The interface allows the designer to specify the layout of a search results page.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for providing a custom search engine. In one aspect, a first search query is received from a requestor. First search results contain search result items that match the first search query are obtained. A least one sub-query is generated from the first search results. The generating is based on rules for a particular custom search engine. Second search results that match the sub-query are then obtained. A search result set is formed from a corpus that includes the first search results and the second search results. The generating of the search result set is based on the rules for the particular custom search engine. The search result set is provided to the requestor. In one aspect an interface for designing a custom search engine is provided. The interface allows the designer to specify the layout of a search results page.

Abstract: A method for obtaining copper arsenic chalcogen derived nanoparticles, including selecting a first precursor material from the group comprising copper, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and mixtures thereof, selecting a second material from the group comprising sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and mixtures thereof, and then reacting both precursors in a solvent medium at conditions conducive to the formation of copper arsenic chalcogen derived nanoparticles.

Abstract: Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.

Abstract: While a document, such as an e-book, is read by a user on a computing device such as an e-reader, concept phrases are extracted from the document. The extracted concept phrases may be words or phrases that match known concept phrases such as headings. Based on a universal concept phrase graph that includes nodes for each known concept phrase, core concept phrases are determined for the document. These core concept phrases are associated with nodes of the universal concept phrase graph that are located within a predetermined distance of nodes that represent the concept phrases extracted from the document. Each core concept phrase is combined with one or more of the concept phrases to generate multiple queries. These queries are submitted to search engines, and indicators of documents from the corresponding search results are presented to the user with the original document that is being read.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: A method for obtaining copper arsenic chalcogen derived nanoparticles, including selecting a first precursor material from the group comprising copper, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and mixtures thereof, selecting a second material from the group comprising sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and mixtures thereof, and then reacting both precursors in a solvent medium at conditions conducive to the formation of copper arsenic chalcogen derived nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage media are provided for generating rich navigational study aids for electronic books. For a particular section of interest in a document, one or more related sections for providing additional context to the particular section are determined. The related sections are ranked based on a score indicating significance to the particular section. Based on a user's information processing preference, a set of ranked navigational links to each related section is presented to the user for additional context related to the particular section.

Abstract: Presented herein is a method for obtaining a dissolved selenium liquid mixture from solid selenium. The method involves mixing an amine solvent and a thiol solvent with the solid selenium to produce a liquid intermediate solution and removing a sulfur containing compound from the liquid intermediate solution to produce a dissolved selenium liquid mixture. A method for obtaining dissolved sulfur liquid mixture by mixing an amine with a thiol to produce a liquid solution that dissolves sulfur to produce a dissolved sulfur liquid mixture is also presented. In addition, a method for obtaining a dissolved sulfur and selenium liquid mixture from solid selenium and solid sulfur by mixing an amine solvent with a thiol solvent is presented.